Red Borders at Hidcote

The red borders are in their glory in September even in the rain.  It's interest to note that the borders are not mirrors, even though the same plants are repeated on both sides.  The plants repeat within each side, but not with a strict rhythm.  So your eye moves the length of the border.  There are plants that are unique to each side (see the cimfuga half way back); these plants serve as explanation points and stop the eye from moving too quickly.  All very subtle and sophisticated.

Onward to the Cotswolds

Sat Nav is a wonderful thing.  It got us from Heathrow to Chipping Campden with no hiccups.  Chipping Campden is the quinessential Cotswold village--nearly intact, good pubs, only a few tourists this time of year, and what look to be a fair number of retirees (reminds me of Bellport).  After a pause for refuelling, we pushed on to Hidcote.  It was rainy, so the photos are a little dull.  The garden was anything but dull.  It is almost too much to take in at one time.  The plant combos are exciting, the design principles absolutely obvious to even a non-design maven.  We stayed until the light was fading and the rain bucketing down.  Then we proceeded to get hopelessly lost getting back the four miles to Chipping Camden and saw a lot ofvery pretty black-faced sheep.  A good pub meal at Eight Bells finished off the day.